Overview
PNRI’s Science Matters free, virtual seminars feature discussions with scientists around the globe about exciting research in genetics, genomics, and evolutionary biology with important societal impact.
Topics include research on the genetics of ethnically diverse populations, diseases afflicting vulnerable or underserved groups, and efforts to expand the diversity (broadly defined) of research subjects or the scientific workforce.
The seminars are free to attend and open to the scientific community and anyone interested in learning more about genetics. These are virtual events (via Zoom) and require advance registration. Each seminar has a unique registration link. Register for our next seminar at the bottom of this page.
18
September
11:30 am (PDT)
Nina Gold, MD/Claudia Gonzaga-Juaregui, PhD
Pediatrician and Geneticist, Mass General Brigham Hospital/Principal Investigator, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Newborn Screening
Join us for a special seminar in recognition of Newborn Screening Awareness Month. Experts will discuss the developments and challenges of newborn screening in the United States and Latin America. This seminar is ideal for anyone interested in the forefront of genetics and its critical role in newborn health.
Introduction
with Jane Buckner, MD
Dr. Jane Buckner, President of the Benaroya Research Institute and niece of newborn screening pioneer Robert Guthrie, MD, PhD, will share reflections on Dr. Guthrie, his unique personality, his passion and commitment to implement newborn screening for everyone and how her uncle’s development of the “Guthrie Test,” a landmark tool for detecting metabolic disorders in newborns, impacts her work in biomedical research today.
The Road to Genomic Newborn Screening
with Nina Gold, MD
Newborn screening is a highly successful public health program, but includes only a fraction of treatable childhood-onset genetic disorders. Genomic screening holds promise as a tool to detect more children at risk for these conditions before they develop symptoms. In this seminar, Dr. Gold will discuss the current state of newborn screening, stakeholder views on expanding newborn screening with genomic sequencing, and how biobank data can inform our understanding of genomic screening characteristics.
Challenges and Opportunities of Newborn Screening in Latin America
with Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, PhD
The first newborn screening (NBS) program to be implemented in Latin America was in Mexico in 1974, eleven years after the initial NBS programs in other parts of the world. In the last 50 years, progress has been made in implementing and expanding NBS across Latin America, yet children across the region do not fully benefit from this effective public health strategy. In light of new technologies such as genomic sequencing and their potential utilization for NBS, Dr. Gonzaga-Jauregui will discuss the opportunities for the future of NBS in Latin American countries given their economic and technological constraints.
Upcoming Science Matters Seminars
Past Seminars
Questions
Contact the Development Team via our contact form or call (206) 726-1233 with any questions you may have about giving to PNRI. We appreciate your support.